Jacquard pattern control arrangement for circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

Method of and apparatus for increasing the number of control signals from Jacquard pattern control mechanism to circular knitting machines. Two different kinds of needle jacks are employed, such jacks of different types being used in pairs having one of each type of jack. For each knitting system there are provided two pattern selection stations or positions of which at least one affords the selection of both needle jack types. Each needle selection station activates at all times only one of both needle jack types. In the embodiment shown there is thus provided a doubling of the control signals from Jacquard pattern control mechanism to circular knitting machines.

1111 3,742,732 1451 -July3, 1973 JACQUARD PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES [75] Inventor: Ernst-Dieter Plath,

Tailfingen/Wuertt., Germany [73] Assignee: Firma Mayer & Cie

Maschinenfabrik, Tailfingen, Germany [22] Filed: NOV. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 91,989

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 24, 1969 Germany P 19 58 846.6

[ 52 10.6. C1; 66/42, 66/50 B [51] Int. Cl. D041) 15/68, D041) 15/74 [58] Field of Search 66/50 R, 50 B, 25, 66/42, 14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,945 7/1932 Lombardi 66/42 2,627,736 2/1953 Lawson 66/42 3,012,423 12/1961 Lyster 66/50 R 3,063,269

- 11/1962 Losert et al 66/50 R X 3,442,097 5/1969 1.66mi 156/50 R 3,457,734 7/1969 M11161 66/42 3,365,917 1/1968 Schmidt et a1. 66/50 R 3,500,662 3/1970 Rlbler, 66/50 R FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLlCATlONS 1,582,723 10/1969 France 66/50 B 2,012,445

Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney-Arthur O. Klein 57] ABSTRACT Method of and apparatus for increasing the number of control signals from Jacquard pattern control mechanism to circular knitting machines. Two different kinds of needle jacks are employed, such jacks of. different types being used in pairs having one of each type 'of jack. For each knitting system there are provided two pattern selection stations or positions of which at least one affords the selection of both needle jack types. Each needle selection station activates at all times only one of both needle jack types. In the embodiment shown there is thus provided a doubling of the control signals from Jacquard pattern control mechanism to circular knitting machines.

3 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures 3/1970 France 66/50 H PATENTED JUL 3 1973 SHEET 2 0F 8 Fig. 2a 519.25

Fig. 2

a: ll

IJTLN mmvrom Ernst D/cfer pL/lT/f Attarnev:

PATENTEDJUU I973 SHEET 8 0F 8 INVENTOR.

PATENTEDJUL 3 I973 'suz n s or 8 IN V EN TOR.

PATENTEDJUL3 I975 3.742.732

. SHEET 5 BF 8 Fig. 11 1 1 .111: F/y. 1/11 14H ornev JACQUARD PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES This invention relates to a Jacquard pattern arrangemanet and method for circular knitting machines with a needle cylinder which is horizontally movable and is provided with needle jacks with at least one pattern foot in addition to a working foot, the needle jacks being swingable to a limited degree. The needle jacks are selectively controlled by pattern wings or cams cooperating with pin drums, the arrangement doubling the pattern signals for knitting performed on the circular knitting machine.

In a mechanical Jacquard pattern arrangement having a pin drum the number of pattern signals is determined by the size of the pin drums and the number of pins. Because of the limited space of the periphery of a circular knitting machine, the size of the pin drums can not be made so large as one might wish, therefor e the number of pattern signals provided by the well known pattern arrangements are limited and are not sufficient for all pattern requirements. It has been attempted to enlarge the number of pattern signals by increasing the number of pattern feet which work together with the pin drums and the needle jacks. This has required that either the distance from pattern foot to pattern foot between, consecutive needle jacks, which are mounted in the needle cylinder in a well known manner with a staggered arrangement of the pattern feet, be reduced, or that the needle jacks be lengthened. Both such constructions have the disadvantage that the likelihood of mechanical failure of the pattern arrangement is increased. A reduction of the distance between the control feet of the needle jacks causes, in general, through lack of space, a weakening of the machine parts provided for controlling these pattern feet. An elongation of the needle jacks produces great and undesirable differences in the length of the lever arm between each of the steps of the pattern control mechanism.

The object of this invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, without diminishing the distances between the pattern feet on consecutive needle jacks and without an unfavorable elongation of these needle jacks. The invention provides a Jacquard pattern arrangement which allows a considerable broader range of pattern signals than any of those already achieved with mechanical pattern arrangements. This object is solved by a process according to the invention, which affords a doubling of the pattern relationship width or number and is characterized by the provision of two different types of needle jacks used pairwise, and the fact that two pattern selection stations are provided per knitting system, of which at least one affords the selection of both needle jack types, whereby, however, each needle selection station activates at all times only one of both needle jack types in a permanent manner.

The'method according to the invention is carried out with a Jacquard pattern arrangement which is so constructed and arranged that per knitting system there are provided two types of needle jacks travelling in the circulation direction, the jacks being pushable against each other at pattern selection positions or stations. The needle jacks of each pair at least differ as to the breadth of their upper working feet; each of the needle jacks of one kind together with a needle jack of the other kind having a similarly located foot is mounted in the needle cylinder. in accordance with the invention the needle jacks affect the needles by means of intermediate jacks which differ according to the different needle jacks, the feet of the intermediate jacks differing from each other by different positions of their working feet. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the needle jacks of the second kind have a broad upper working foot, the upper edge of such broad foot being at the same distance from the top edge of the needle jacks as the upper edge of smaller upper working feet of the needle jacks of the first kind. The needle jacks of the second type or kind have an additional swinging foot of their back sides, that is, the side which is turned to the needle cylinder. Each cam system has two peripherally spaced radially disposed ramp-like cams for swinging the needle jacks. During rotation of the needle cylinder the first cam affects both types of the needle jacks; and the second cam affects only the needle jacks of the second type which will be affected by their swinging feet. Through the pairwise arrangement of both types of the needle jacks in the needle cylinder, and the choice of two selections of the needle jacks through the pattern arrangement on each knitting system, the signal breadth, that is, the number of possible signals, of a pattern without lengthening the pattern drum and thereby the vertical arranged rows of rods is doubled. The coupling between the needle jacks and the assigned needles by way of the intermediate jacks is such that a predetermined space is provided between the upper ends of the intermediate jacks and the lower ends of the needles when both are in their circulating or non-knitting positions. The provision of such spacing allows a controlling movement effected by the needle jacks upon the intermediate jacks between two cam tracks of the needle cylinder without moving the needles axially. This method will achieve in connection with both selections of position on each knitting system a large number of knitting variations of the circular knitting machine. According to this invention, it is guaranteed that the doubling of the pattern signal breadth will not diminish the variety of knitting possibilities. With a pattern arrangement according to this invention all needles can be pushed out into their knitting position on one knitting system or all needles may be retracted into their circulating or non-knitting position. With the help of the pattern arrangement a l l needle choice can be achieved, whereby either the first selection position or station or the second selection position or station of the pattern arrangement can determine the knitting position of the needles. A 3 3 needle selection can also be achieved, whereby the selection at the two selection stations of a knitting system can differ.

Further advantages of this invention are described in the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein a pattern arrangement with cam parts and jacks according to the invention is more or less schematically shown, and the needle jacks, intermediate jacks and needles are illustrated in different positions of the pattern arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a developed view of an array of needle jacks, intermediate jacks, and associated needles of a pattern controlled circular knitting machine in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a development of the cam cylinder or mantle throughout the extent of two knitting systems of a pattern controlled circular knitting machine in accordance with the invention in combination with two sequentially arranged sets of needles, intermediate jacks, and needle jacks, and with the control mechanism arranged for the making of a l l needle choice;

FIG. 2a is a view in elevation of the set of needle, intermediate jack, and needle jack, shown at the extreme right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is a view in elevation of the set of needle, intermediate jack, and needle jack shown immediately to the left of the set of needle and jacks shown at the extreme right in FIG. 1;

FIGS. a, 11a, 12a, and 13a are similar to FIG. 2a;

FIGS. 10b, 11b, 12b, and 13b are similar to FIG. 2b;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the cam pieces in the direction of the selection line 33 in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 being on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4-9, inclusive, are views in partial radial axial section of the cam pieces and the needle cylinder along the lines 44 to 9-9, respectively, in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a development of one of the two systems shown in FIG. 2, the view showing the cam tracks for the reception of the feet of the different needle jacks, intermediate jacks and of the respective needles in a control system for a l l needle choice by the altered function of both selection means of the knitting system, the needles 141/2 being shown in position to knit whereas the needles 141/1 are shown remaining in nonknitting position;

FIG. 1 l is a view similar to FIG. 10 but with both needles 141/1 and 141/2 being shown in position to knit;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but with both needles 141/! and 141/2 being shown by remaining in nonknitting position; and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but with the control mechanism such that it permits a 3 3 needle choice.

A suitable Jacquard control system for use with the arrangement of the present invention is one disclosed and claimed in US. application Ser. No. 87,949, filed on or about Nov. 9, 1970, of the same inventor, entitled A JACQUARD-PATTERN ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES" and corresponding to German patent application Ser. No. P 19 56 581.2-26, filed Nov. 11, I969.

The basic construction of Jacquard control system is known. There is therefore only a fragmentary showing herein of the pin cylinder and of the pattern device controlled by the pins thereof and operating upon the control feet of the needle jacks. It is also known that in such control mechanisms the control feet of the needle jacks in the needle cylinder are staggered, the control feet of the needle jacks which follow one another being spaced at different distances from the lower working foot of the needle jack, so that the control feet in the needle cylinder form an inclined line.

FIG. 1 shows the needles, intermediate jacks, and needle jacks for an entire cam system (inclined insert) in a needle cylinder 50 (FIGS.4-9, inclusive). In accordance with the invention there are pr provided two types of needle jacks, designated 10 and 1], respectively, which, however, are set pairwise in the needle cylinder, each jack pair 10 and 11 having similar control feet 101 and 111. As is distinctly shown in FIG. 1, where the whole inclined cam insert for pairs of needle jacks l0 and 11 is shown, the control feet 101 and 111 while being at the same height in each pair, constantly rise in the direction from the right to the left in FIG. 1 until at the extreme left in that figure they drop again to lie at the same level as the feet 101 and 111 of the pair at the extreme right in that figure. The needle jacks 10, that is, the needle jacks of the first type, are provided in a known manner with a lower foot 102 and an upper working foot 103. The needle jacks 11, that is, the needle jacks of the second type, are each distinguished from the jacks 10 by a broad upper working foot 113 having their upper edges positioned at the same height as the upper edges of feet 103 ofjacks 110, as shown in FIG. 1. The feet 113, however, have a width or vertical heights which substantially exceeds that of feet 103. Jacks 11 also have a rearwardly facing foot 114 on their lower ends, all of the feet 114 being positioned similarly upon their respective jacks 11. The lower working foot 112 of needle jack 1 1 is of the same construction as and similarly positioned upon the jacks 11 as the feet 102 on jacks 10.

Corresponding to both types of needle jacks 10 and 11 there are two types of intermediate jacks l2 and 13 which are distinguished by the position of their working feet 121 and 131, respectively, along their lengths. The working foot 121 of the intermediate jack l2 lies substantially higher in the needle cylinder than the working foot 131 of the intermediate jack 13. The needles 14 in the cylinder 50 (FIGS.49, inclusive) which are controlled by the underlying, respective needle jacks 10, 11 and intermediate jacks 12, 13, are all constructed in the same manner; each is provided with a single working foot 141. For a better understanding of the further figures, it should be understood that there are two sets of needles and their accompanying needle jack and intermediate jacks which travel through the consecutively arranged cam paths of the machine as the needle cylinder rotates about its axis. A first such set is made up of a needle 14/1, its intermediate jack l2, and its needle jack 10; a second set of elements is made up of a needle 14/2, its intermediate jack 13, and its needle jack 11.

The control mechanism thus works with two types of needle jacks and intermediate jacks, whereby it will become apparent that in the starting position or in the rotating non-knitting position of the jacks and needles, a predetermined desired space 15 exists between the upper ends of the intermediate jacks 12 and 13 and the lower ends of the needles 14. The reason for such space will now be explained.

'In FIGS. 1 and 10-13, inclusive, there are shown, near the cam mantle or cylinder development, two types of needle jacks and intermediate jacks in order to make it easy to explain the path of such members through the cam system during the operation of the apparatus. FIG. 2 shows a cam mantle development over the extent of two knitting systems. In the upper portion of the cam system there are provided cam tracks for the working feet 141 of the needles, such cam tracks being formed by an upper cam piece 16 the underside of which limits the upward travel of the needle feet, a

lower cam piece 17, which limits the downward travel of the cam track of the needle feet 141, and upper and lower leading-in or guiding cams 18 and 19, respectively.

In the middle or central part of FIG. 2 there are positioned cam pieces which cooperate with the working feet 121 and 131 of the intermediate jacks 12' and 13,- respectively. Such part of the cam system is made up of upper cam pieces 20, 21 and lower cam pieces 22, 23 as well as peripherally central cam pieces 24 and 25. These cam pieces define cam tracks 26, 27,28 and 29, in which the feet 121 or 131 of the intermediate needle jacks 12 and 13 are forced to run, and cam switching stations 30 and 31, at which the positioning of the working feet 121, 131 is effected. The central cam pieces 24 and 25 have entering ends 241 and 251, respectively, at which the respective cam tracks branch into upper and lower tracks.

In the lower half of FIG. 2 there are positioned cam pieces with which the working feet on the needle jacks 10 and 11 cooperate. There are there provided cam pieces 32 and 33 which form guiding surfaces for the upper ends of the upper working feet 114 and 103 of the needle jacks. There is also provided peripherally spaced central cam pieces 34 which provide lower guiding surfaces for the broad upper working foot 113 of the needle jack 11 of the second type of. needle jacks. Cam pieces 35, 36 and 37 provide guiding surfaces for the lower working feet 102' and 112 of the needle jacks l and 11. Finally, there are provided in each of the knitting systems, cam pieces 38 and 39 (FIG. 3) which are disposed to act in a direction radial of the axis of the knitting cylinder 50.

In the lower half of FIG. 2, in the axial space between the lower cam pieces. 35 to 37 and the central cam piece 34 there are provided two sets of control wings 40 and 41 by means of which at the same time the position of both track or path choices of a knitting system is made. Both sets of control wings 40 and41 can be under the control of rows of pins (not shown) such as a pin cylinder of a Jacquard mechanism (not sown). Such pin cylinder would be here so arranged in the order of the pins thereon that a l l needle choice results. As a result, the needles- 14/ l which are controlled by the first type of jacks 10, 12 remain unextended and thus non-knitting, whereas the needles 14/2, which are controlled by the second type of jacks 11, 13 are impelled upwardly into their knitting position. The paths of the working feet 141/1 of the non-knitting needles 14/1, and the paths of the working feet 141/2 of the knitting needles 14/2 are shown in FIG. 2 by a series of short vertical lines. The lower end of the control mechanism at the location of the needle jacks l0, 11 at both selection stations of a single knitting system is shown in the successive vertical sections of FIGS. 4-9, inclusive.

It will be apparent upon reference to FIG. 2 that the section shown in FIG. 4 is taken through the cam piece 38 just in advance (to the left of) a needle jack 10, and that the section of FIG. is taken just in advance of the second, corresponding cam piece 38 and shows a needle jack 11 in elevation. The working feet 101 and 111 of jacks and 11, respectively, are shown aligned with and confronting the respective control wings 40 as the needles and jacks travel past such wings in the rotation of the needle cylinder 50.-The cam piece 38 is provided with a recess 381 in which the swinging foot 114 of the needle jack 1! may travel freely so that the cam piece 38 does not then influence or control such swinging foot. The lower working foot 102 and 112 run on the upper guiding edge of the first lower cam piece 35. The upper .working feet 103 and 113 lie with their upper surfaces against the lower guiding surface of the upper cam piece 33. It should be noted that the initial portion of cam 38 drives all jacks, which have been previously selected and are positioned inwardly of the needle cylinder, outwardly for selection. 7

As shown in the sections of FIGS. 6 and 8, when the first control selection is made by the control wings 40, all of the needle jacks 10 and 11, actuated by the control wings, through their control feet 101 and 111, are again retracted radially inwardly into their guiding channels in the needle cylinder 50, so that the lower working feet 102 and 112 are moved inwardly away from the upper surface control of the lower cam piece 35, and thus cannot run upon the next following cam surface of the lower cam piece 36 (see FIG. 2). While the needle jack 10 remains in this position while rotating with the needle cylinder (FIG. 7), the respective intermediate jack 12 and the respective needles l4/l also thereby remain in their retracted, non-knitting position. The needle jacks 11, however, which are also swung back into their channels in the needle cylinder 50 by their control wings 40, are raised by the interaction of the central cam part 34 and the broad upper work foot 113, so that their lower work foot 112 may run on the upper edge of the lower cam part 36 as shown in FIG. 9. In this position of the parts the swinging foot 114 of the needle jack 1 1 runs against the outer surface of cam part 39 whereby the needle jack 11 is again swung outwardly so that the needle jack is again in position to be affected by the control wing 41 in order to make a choice or selection. At the second selection location, only the needle jacks 11 (of the second type) are ready to be effected by the selection mechanism; meanwhile, the first type of needle jacks (10) remain in their retracted, non-knitting position (see FIG. 7).

It will be apparent from the above that at the second selection point 41 only the jacks l1 are'ready for a selection of the needles. This is caused by means of the radially acting second cam portion 39. At the second selection station 41 there are two possibilities for the jacks 10, which remain without effect for the needle selection.

1. In this case, the jack 10 is pushed into the needle channel at the first selection station 40. By means of this, the driving foot 102 moves to a position which is outside the region of the ejection cam part 36. At the secondselection station there remains the jack pushed into the needle channel, the jack 10, the intermediate jack l2, and the needle 14/1 remains in the lower (notknitting) position. The selection station 41 has no influence upon the jack 10.

2. In the case where the jack 10 was not pushed into the needle channel at the first selection station 40, the ejection foot 102 remains in the region of the. ejection cam 36. The jack 10 is guided upwardly, lifts the intermediate jack 12 over the partial point 241 in the channel 26, and thereby lifts the needle 14ll into the knitting position. It is of no importance whether this jack 10 now remains at the second selection station 41 in the path of the cam portions 36, 37, or is pushed into the needle channel. The position of the needle 14/1 was established at the first selection station 40. The second selection station 41, as above-stated, has no effect upon the needles 14/1. It will be understood that in the described embodiment shown and described herein. The needle position (circulation, catching, and knitting) has been referred to with respect to the jacks.

All of the needle jacks 11, which at the second selection point have not been thrust radially inwardly by the control wing 41 into the axially extending channel of the needle cylinder 50, run with their lower working foot 112 on the guiding surface of the lower cam piece 37, whereby such needle jack 11 is thrust upwardly, that is, axially outwardly. The associated respective intermediate jack 13 will thereby be thrust upwardly so that its working foot 131 engages the lower guiding surface of the cam member 22. The respective needles 14/2 remain, however in their retracted (with respect to the loop-forming edge of the needle cylinder), nonknitting position. First, when the work foot 112 of the needle jack 11 runs along the ramp cam guiding surface of the cam 37, the needle jack 11 and the intermediate jack 13 will be raised far enough for the working foot 131 on jack 13 to be raised above the switching point 251 on cam piece 25 so that the working foot 131 then travels in the upper track 28. As a result, the corresponding needle 14//2 with its working foot 141/2 will be raised to follow the cam ramp on the bottom edge of the cam piece 16 so that the needle is then impelled outwardly into its knitting position. Before this, the needle jack 11 will have been moved downwardly through the lower retracting surface of the upper cam piece 33 with the help of its upper work foot 113, so that it will be ready for a selection to be made at the selection station of the next following knitting system.

The various manners of control which are possible with the pattern control mechanism of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, inclusive. In FIG. 10 there is illustrated in a development of the cam mantle the needle foot motion when the control mechanism is set up to carry out a l l needle choice. In FIG. 10, in contrast to the above explained l l knitting pattern device of FIG. 2, the needle jack 10 is brought to the first selection position and with it the associated needle 14/1 is brought into its knitting position, while in the second selection position, the needle jack 11 and with its associated needle 14/2 is retracted into its nonknitting position. The same needle jacks 10 and 11 will remain in the outer position after action by cam 38 since cams 40 are not active, so that the lower working feet 102 and 112 of both types of needle jacks are situated in the reach of the ramp upper surface of the cam piece 36. The pattern-controlling wings 40 are drawn back and do not control or influence the control feet 101 and 111 of the needle jacks l and 11. The working feet of the needle jacks run along the guiding surface of the cam piece 36 and thus lie in a nonknitting position, but the corresponding intermediate jacks 12 are raised trough such a distance that their working feet 121 are thrust above the switching point 241 of the central cam piece 24 and thus travel along the upper cam track 26, so that the intermediate jack l2 and the associated needle 14/ l is thrust upwardly into its knitting position.

The knitting jacks 11 will be thrust upwardly or raised through engagement of their broad upper working feet 113 with the central cam piece 34 to such an extent that the working foot 112 likewise lies within the reach of the cam piece 36. This leads to a raising of the working foot 131 of the-intermediate jack 13 until tight under the cam piece 22. The needle 14/2 will, however, not move at this time. At the second selection positions the control wings 41 are now in working position and press all of the needle jacks 11, which have been thrust radially outwardly by the cam piece 39, again radially inwardly into the channels in the cylinder 50, so that their lower working feet 112 lie upon the upper guiding surface of the cam piece 36. They accordingly run behind the next following cam piece 37. Through their upper working feet 103 113 which are locked into engagement with the cam piece 33, they will again be drawn back into their retracted position, in which they then stand ready for the first position of choice of the next following knitting system. The needles 14/2 are thus brought into their non-knitting position, and only the needles 14/1 of the first type will be driven upwardly into their knitting position by the intermediate jacks 12 which are guided in the cam track 26. The other intermediate jacks 13 run with their working feet 131 against the cam ramp of the central cam piece 25 and thereby will be drawn backwardly into their retracted, non-knitting position.

In FIG. ll there is illustrated a pattern control device in accordance with the invention so arranged that at each of the two control positions per system the needles 14/1 and l4/2 are driven in their knitting positions, for example, in the carrying out of an uncontrolled knitting. This is accomplished with the help of both types of needle jacks and both types of intermediate jacks as well as the needles 14/1 and 14/2. In FIG. 11, it is apparent that the needle jacks 10 and 11 are swung outwardly from the cylinder 50 by the cam piece 38 and remain in their thus swung out position, so that their working feet 102 and 112 are guided over all of the guiding surfaces of the lower cam pieces 35, 36, and 37. This means that the working feet 121 and 131 of both intermediate jacks 12 and 13 run in the corresponding cam tracks 26 and 28 and thereby thrust the corresponding needles 14/1 and 14/2 into the knitting position. In the same manner, working feet 14l/l, 142/2 run on the cam surface of the upper cam pieces 16 and 18.

In FIG. 12. there is shown an arrangement of the system of theinvention in which neither set of needles 141/1 and '141/2 is knitting. It is apparent that the lower working feet 102 and 112 of the different types of needle jacks 10 and 11 are over the reach of the lower cam pieces 35, 36, and 37. In this condition, at the first selection point the control wings 40 swing back into the cylinders the needle jacks l0 and 11, which have been swung outwardly by the cam pieces 38. As a result, the working feet 102 of the needle jacks 10 are brought into a non knitting position, which they maintain throughout the whole knitting system. The similarly rearwardly swung needle jacks 11 will, on the contrary, be thrust upwardly somewhat through the running of its upper work foot 113 on the central cam piece 34 so that their lower working feet 102, in advance .of the second selection position, will be swung outwardly by means of the cam piece 39 onto the peak of the lower cam surface of the cam piece 36. They will then, however, in the second choice or selection position again be thrust rearwardly by the pattern wings 41 into the cylinder and will remain there in a non knitting position. Through the raising of the needle jack 11 by the central cam piece 34, the working feet 131 of the intermediate jacks 13 will be brought only tightly against the underside of the cam piece 22 and later again through the central cam piece 25 will be retracted downwardly. The whole motion of the intermediate jacks is smaller than the distance between the upper ends of the intermediate jacks and the lower ends of the associated needles, so that the needles 14/2 are not controlled or moved by such motion of the jacks and remain in their non knitting position.

FIG. 13 somewhat schematically shows a system of the present invention which is set up for 3 3 needle choice. With this arrangement, which requires no further explanation, it will be obvious that the needles can be selectively directed at every selection point into their non knitting positions. It thus follows that in the device or apparatus according to FIG. 13, there is the possibility of a different needle choice at both of the selection points of every knitting system.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to a plurality of preferred embodiments, it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such a plurality of preferred embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A control mechanism for a circular knitting machine having a plurality of similar knitting systems, a rotatable needle cylinder, needle-receiving channels in said cylinder, and knitting needles in said channels, comprising two sets of different types of needle jacks in said channels, said different types of jacks being disposed in pairs, each such pair of jacks having contiguous jacks of different types, and two control selection stations for each knitting system of the knitting machine, at least of one of said stations affording the selection of both needle jack types, the needle jacks being capable of limited swinging, each needle jack being provided with a radially outwardly facing lower working foot and with at least one radially outwardly facing control foot, a cam at each knitting system with which the working feet of the needle jacks selectively coat, a Jacquard control mechanism having a driven pin drum, means cooperating with the pin drum to conthe upper ends of the needle jacks, one of said types of needle jacks having an additional, radially inwardly facing foot, and cam means coacting with said additional, radially inwardly facing feet to rock the jacks carrying said additional feet radially outwardly.

2. A Jacquard control mechanism according to claim 1, comprising a cam-carrying mantle surrounding the needle cylinder, a cam system for each knitting system, each can! system having a first radial cam for the swinging of the needle jacks, in the operation of the apparatus the first radial cam working upon needle jacks of both types, said cam means being disposed at each cam system and consisting of a second radial cam.

3. A control mechanism for a circular knitting machine having a plurality of similar knitting systems, a rotatable needle cylinder, needle-receiving channels in said cylinder, and knitting needles in said channels, comprising two sets of different types of needle jacks in'said channels, said different types of jacks being disposed in pairs, each such pair of jacks having contiguous jacks of different types, two control selection stations stations for each knitting system of the knitting machine, at least one of said stations affording the selection of both needle jack types, the needle jacks being capable of limited swinging, each needle jack being provided with a radially outwardly facing lower working foot and with at least one radially outwardly facing control foot, acam at each knitting system with which the working feet of the eedle jacks selectively coact, a Jacquard control mechanism having a driven pin drum, means cooperating with the pin drum to control the needle jacks by-coaction with the control feet on the jacks, the needle jacks being provided with radially outwardly facing upper working feet, the upper working feet of the two different types of needle jacks having different widths axially of the needle cylinder, and intermediate jacks through which the needle jacks work upon the needles, there being provided two types of intermediate jacks corresponding to the different needle jacks, the two types of intermediate jacks having radially outwardly facing working feet which are distinguished from each other by a different positioning of such working feet, a cam-carrying mantlesurrounding the needle cylinder, a cam system for each knitting system, each cam system having radial cams for the swinging of the needle jacks in the operation of the apparatus, one of said types of needle jacks having an additional, radially inwardly facing foot, first and second on such needle jacks. 

1. A control mechanism for a circular knitting machine having a plurality of similar knitting systems, a rotatable needle cylinder, needle-receiving channels in said cylinder, and knitting needles in said channels, comprising two sets of different types of needle jacks in said channels, said different types of jacks being disposed in pairs, each such pair of jacks having contiguous jacks of different types, and two control selection stations for each knitting system of the knitting machine, at least of one of said stations affording the selection of both needle jack types, the needle jacks being capable of limited swinging, each needle jack being provided with a radially outwardly facing lower working foot and with at least one radially outwardly facing control foot, a cam at each knitting system with which the working feet of the needle jacks selectively coact, a Jacquard control mechanism having a driven pin drum, means cooperating with the pin drum to control the needle jacks by coaction with the control feet on the jacks, the needle jacks being provided with radially outwardly facing upper working feet, the upper working feet of the two different types of needle jacks being of different widths axially of the needle cylinder, the needle jacks of one type having an axially brOad upper working foot while the needle jacks of the other type have an axially narrow upper working foot, the upper edges of all of the upper working feet of both types of needle jacks lying at the same distance from the upper ends of the needle jacks, one of said types of needle jacks having an additional, radially inwardly facing foot, and cam means coacting with said additional, radially inwardly facing feet to rock the jacks carrying said additional feet radially outwardly.
 2. A Jacquard control mechanism according to claim 1, comprising a cam-carrying mantle surrounding the needle cylinder, a cam system for each knitting system, each cam system having a first radial cam for the swinging of the needle jacks, in the operation of the apparatus the first radial cam working upon needle jacks of both types, said cam means being disposed at each cam system and consisting of a second radial cam.
 3. A control mechanism for a circular knitting machine having a plurality of similar knitting systems, a rotatable needle cylinder, needle-receiving channels in said cylinder, and knitting needles in said channels, comprising two sets of different types of needle jacks in said channels, said different types of jacks being disposed in pairs, each such pair of jacks having contiguous jacks of different types, two control selection stations stations for each knitting system of the knitting machine, at least one of said stations affording the selection of both needle jack types, the needle jacks being capable of limited swinging, each needle jack being provided with a radially outwardly facing lower working foot and with at least one radially outwardly facing control foot, a cam at each knitting system with which the working feet of the needle jacks selectively coact, a Jacquard control mechanism having a driven pin drum, means cooperating with the pin drum to control the needle jacks by coaction with the control feet on the jacks, the needle jacks being provided with radially outwardly facing upper working feet, the upper working feet of the two different types of needle jacks having different widths axially of the needle cylinder, and intermediate jacks through which the needle jacks work upon the needles, there being provided two types of intermediate jacks corresponding to the different needle jacks, the two types of intermediate jacks having radially outwardly facing working feet which are distinguished from each other by a different positioning of such working feet, a cam-carrying mantle surrounding the needle cylinder, a cam system for each knitting system, each cam system having radial cams for the swinging of the needle jacks in the operation of the apparatus, one of said types of needle jacks having an additional, radially inwardly facing foot, first and second radial cams, the first radial cam working upon needle jacks of both types, and the second radial cam working upon the needle jacks bearing such additional, radially inwardly facing foot only through such additional foot on such needle jacks. 